Editor's note: Every NFL team is preparing to attack its offseason to-do list, with free agency set to open March 12 and the draft April 25-27. This is the 17th of 32 reports in 32 days by Sporting News NFL correspondents, who will analyze the offseason game plan for each team. Monday: New Orleans Saints. Tuesday: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gettleman, who was hired in January, stepped into a cap-challenged situation for a team that is paying for the spending spree former GM Marty Hurney and owner Jerry Richardson went on following the lockout two years ago.

The Panthers are about $10 million over the projected $122 million cap, so Gettleman likely won't be able to make any of the big free-agent splashes that highlighted his 14-year stint as the Giants' pro personnel director (see Burress, Plaxico).

Cornerback Chris Gamble and defensive tackle Ron Edwards are expected to be the first cap casualties. Others, like left tackle Jordan Gross or linebacker Jon Beason, could be asked to take a pay cut.

Even after making the necessary cuts, the Panthers have a solid nucleus in place — beginning with quarterback Cam Newton and linebacker Luke Kuechly, each of whom won Rookie of the Year awards.

Gettleman will try to fill in the gaps with bargain-basement free agents while positioning the Panthers for future caps.

Key departures

When healthy, Gamble remains the Panthers' best cover corner. But he missed time with injuries two of the past three seasons, and has a cap figure of $10.9 million.

Like Gamble, Edwards was productive when he's been on the field, but that hasn't happened much his first two seasons. Cutting Edwards will free up $2.5 million in cap space.

The biggest decision involves running back DeAngelo Williams, the franchise rushing leader who was the subject of trade rumors last season.

Jonathan Stewart's ankle injuries in 2012 showed the value of having two running backs, but the Panthers have a lot of money tied up in one position. For now they plan keep both Williams and Stewart.

Needs/targets

1. Defensive tackle.Dwan Edwards was a productive pick-up after the Buffalo Bills cut him before Week 1 last season. Edwards' six sacks were the most by a Panthers defensive tackle since Kris Jenkins had seven in 2002.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera and Gettleman both said they want to re-sign Edwards, 31, who was paid $1.5 million last season. Given Gettleman's background, he also could go after former Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty.

With defensive tackle the deepest position in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Panthers could grab an impact player at No. 14 overall. Florida's Sharrif Floyd and Missouri's Sheldon Richardson have tremendous quickness, but there is good value in later rounds if the Panthers go another direction with their first pick.

2. Cornerback. Besides Gamble, the Panthers also could lose nickel corner Captain Munnerlyn to free agency, leaving a group of mostly unproven young corners in a division that features Matt Ryan and Drew Brees.

Alabama's Dee Milliner, the draft's top cornerback, will be off the board when the Panthers pick 14th. There's a big drop-off after him.

There's an enticing crop of free agent corners, beginning with the Miami Dolphins' Sean Smith and Atlanta Falcons' Brent Grimes, who might be out of the Panthers' price range. The Jacksonville Jaguars' Derek Cox, who is only 26, could be a good addition at a reasonable rate.

3. Safety. After playing behind Ed Reed in Baltimore, free safety Haruki Nakamura arrived in Charlotte last year set on proving he could be a starter. It was a disaster.

Nakamura lost the first Atlanta game by allowing Roddy White to get behind him in the final minute. He was relegated to part-time duty the rest of the season. He reportedly has agreed to take a $500,000 cut in guaranteed money and is being paid more like a core special teams player than a starter.

Sherrod Martin, who platooned with Nakamura, tore knee ligaments near the end of the season and is not expected to re-sign.

Drafting an athletic, physical safety like Kenny Vacarro of Texas would allow the Panthers to keep strong safety Charles Godfrey near the line of scrimmage. The team could target Giants free agent Kenny Phillips, a proven player and leader who has knee issues.

4. Receiver.Steve Smith, who will be 34 before the season begins, remains the Panthers' best wideout but has indicated he'll only play two more seasons. With the Panthers planning to let Newton throw more and run less, it might be time to draft Smith's successor.

Carolina scouts like both Tennessee receivers in the draft — Da'Rick Rogers and Cordarrelle Patterson, a physical specimen who grew up in nearby Rock Hill, S.C., rooting for the Panthers.

5. Offensive tackle. Like Smith, left tackle Jordan Gross is nearing the end. Gettleman believes Gross can play, but if a big, athletic tackle is available when they pick at 14 the Panthers could pull the trigger.

One scenario that seems reasonable is taking a tackle such as Oklahoma's Lane Johnson and letting him play the right side for a couple of years until Gross retires. Johnson is 6-7, 303 pounds and was a high school quarterback who started his Sooners' career as a tight end. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Person's take

Given the cap situation, Gettleman's hands will be tied. At his introductory news conference in January, he mentioned how the flat cap created an abundance of quality free agents who could be signed to one-year deals.

Fortunately for the Panthers, they aren't many priority players among their own free agents. So Gettleman likely won't use the franchise tag.

Look for the Panthers to bring Dwan Edwards back on a short contract. With Gamble likely gone, they could use Munnerlyn. No. 3 wideout Louis Murphy is close with Newton and shouldn't cost much.

The Panthers showed they can win meaningless games when the pressure is off, finishing strong in each of Rivera's first two seasons. But if they don't start strong in 2013 and make the playoffs, Gettleman will be looking to hire his own coach.

Joseph Person covers the Panthers for Sporting News and the Charlotte Observer.